Light attenuation in Southern Iberian Peninsula reservoirs

Abstract

This study evaluates the extinction coefficient of light (Kd) and the Secchi disk depth (SD) in 12 reservoirs located in the southern Iberian Peninsula. These systems show differences in landscape, physical, chemical and trophic properties. The relationships found were analyzed to evaluate the utility of the SD as predictor of the photic zone (Zeu) measured with Kd.The, a new equation is proposed here as a better estimation for the photic zone in these reservoirs: Zeu (m)≈ 2·SD (m)+6. The influence of the chlorophyll-a, turbidity and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration on the water transparency is studied. Both DOC concentration and turbidity affect water transparency. Finally, the capacity of SD as a Kd predictor is also assessed.

Keywords

• extinción de luz en agua
• disco de Secchi
• transparencia
• zona fótica
• embalses